Loading platform and wharf arrangement



Jan. 8 1924. 1,480,137

13. c. ALLIN LOADING PLATFORM AND WHARF ARRANGEMENT Filed Jul 1 1925' 2 Sheecs- Jan. 8 1924. 1,480,137

B. c. ALLIN LOADING PLATFQRM AND WHARF ARRANGEMENT Filed July 17. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 latented Jan. 8, 1924.

warren STATES BENJAMIN C. ALLIN,

OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

LOADING PLATFOR'M' AND WHARF ARRANGEMENT.

Application filed July 17,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN C. ALLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading Platforms and Wharf Arrangement, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in freight handling platforms or wharves and has particular relation to a combined arrangement of railway trackage, wharf floor and waterfront or ship berth whereby the respective units of platform or wharf area may be served by switch tracks so connected with a main line or lines that cars may be switched to or from any main line to serve any particular unit, platform or wharf area without interfering with, or being interfered with by cars on the switch tracks serving or pertaining to any other units, platforms or wharf area. This arrangement of tracks, platform, wharf floor, and waterfront is conducive to economy in space and in the utilization of especially valuable waterfront property, as well as eatly facilitating the handling of freight etween ship and railway cars or platforms, or wharves and railway cars.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction and arrangement, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 s ows a plan of the improved type of wharf arrangement, showing ship berth on one side and switch trackage and main line on the other side.

Figure 2 shows a typical cross section through said ship wharf and railroad trackage with the wharf covered.

Figure 3 shows a typical cross section through the ship, wharf and railroad trackage where the wharf is not covered.

Figure 4: shows a plan view of a section of a pier extending from the shore line into the water showing ship berths on either side with main line and switch trackage in the center, and,

Figures 5 and 6 show typical cross sections of said pier with shedded wharves and open wharves respectively.

In the drawings numeral 1 designates the main line railroad track. More than one main line may be used, if desired, two main 1923. Serial No. 652,198.

lines being shown in Figure 1. From a main line there diverges a plurality of switch tracks indicated by numeral 2. Parallel to these tracks are platforms, indicated by numeral 3, a platform being provided for each set of switch tracks, the front edge of said platform being parallel with said switch tracks, but diagonal with respect to the main line and the waterfront. Said switch tracks are used by occupying same with freight cars, while said freight cars are being unloaded or loaded to or from the wharf or platform as the case may be. Two or more arallel switch tracks are provided for eac platform, all connecting directly, or without touchin any switch track or any other unit, with tie main line. As shown, at one end of each unit of wharf area or platform, the parallel switching tracks pertaining to said unit end and abut against the end of the adjacent unit of W arf area or platform, the outer edges of the wharf floor or platform adjacent to tracks, thus being stepped, relative to each other, while the waterfront on waterside of the wharf is continuous and parallel to the main line of railroad trackage. It is thus obvious that cars servin any particular unit of wharf area or p atform, when loaded or unloaded, may be moved without interference with, or interference by the cars serving adjacent units of wharf area or platforms, thus conduceing to a great saving of time, and making it possible to develop in the case of waterfront terminals, continuous wharves for the berthing of vessels with continuous and unobstructed railroad trackage at all points pertaining to said continuous wharf frontage, and without the necessity of eliminating switch tracks occupied by cars and platforms at certain intervals on account of using the space involved for the placing of switches and curved tracka e to approach and serve adjacent units 0 wharf area or platforms.

In Figures 4, 5, and 6 the same arrangement and principle is shown in use in case of a pier extending out into the water, with improved arrangement of wharf area or platforms and switch tracks on each side of the main line which may be approximately in the center of the pier.

The arrangement may be used in connection with open wharves as shown in Figures 3 and 6 or with wharves having sheds thereon as indicated in Figures 2 and 5.

As hereinbefore described, separate platforms, 3, have been designated, but it IS obvious that a single platform or unit of wharf area may be constructedhavlng several separate sets of switch tracks, the respective sets of switch tracks being diagonal relative to the main track and thus parallel with the Set of switch tracks serving the adjacent portion of said unit of wharf area or platform. In an event the length of each independent set 0 two or more switch tracks or unit of wharf area or platform may vary and be dependent upon the specific needs of commerce and the class and nature of busmess for which each specific structure may be designed.

While this invention has specific reference to the most efiicient and economical utilization and development of waterfront property, being used for the transfer of freight between ship and rail, itis obvious that the same principle a plies "andthat the same arrangement wou d have similar advantages when used in the case of warehouse or industrial property not having any connection with waterfront.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a main line track, a switch track diverging therefrom, and a loading platform arranged substantially parallel with said main line, and having its edge adjacent the switch track arranged parallel with said divergent switch track.

2. In combination, a main line track, a plurality of latforms in end to end relation, and su tantially parallel with said main line, a plurality of switch tracks, diverging at an angle from the main line, separate switch tracks ranging alongside the respective platforms, the edges of said platforms adjacent the respective switch tracks being substantially parallel with the corresponding switch tracks, and diagonal with respect to the main line.

3. A substantially rectangular platform, and a plurality of switch tracks adjacent one side thereof, provided to serve difierent sections of the platform, and arranged angular relative to the longitudinal line of the platform, the edge of each section of platform adjacent said respective tracks being approximately parallel with corresponding track.

4:. In combination, a loading and unloading platform, separate switch tracks serving separate sections of the platform, a main line track from which each switch track diverges at an angle, the edge of each section adjacent its corresponding divergent switch track being ap roximately parallel with said divergent switch track.

5. In combination, a loading and unloading platform, separate switch tracks serving separate sections of the platform, a main line track from which each switch from and parallel with each other, a wharf floor or platform with its edge on the track side parallel to said switch tracks, with its water edge parallel to the main track, this arrangement being continuously repeated two or more times. I

7. In combination, a main line track, a plurality of wharf units or platforms in end to end relation with-waterfront, parallel with the main line, said wharf units also substantially parallel with said main line, a plurality of switch tracks, diverging at an angle from the main line, two or more separate switch tracks parallel with each other running along side the respective platform or units of Wharf, the edges of said platform or units adjacent the respective switch tracks being substantially parallel with the corresponding set of switch tracks and diagonal with respect to the main line and. waterfront.

8. A substantially rectangular wharf area or platform, either uncovered or shedded, and a plurality of switch tracks adjacent to one side thereof, provided to serve difl'erent sections of the wharf or platform, each set of two or more switch tracks arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal line of the wharf or platform, the edge of each section of wharf 0r platform adjacent to said respective set of switch tracks being approx= imately parallel with said tracks.

9. In combination, a loading and unloading platform, or wharf, separate sets of two or more switch tracks serving separate sec tions of the wharf or platform and a main line track from which each switch track or set of switch tracks diverges at an angle, the edge of each section adjacent its corresponding set of divergent switch tracks being approximately parallel with said divergent switch tracks.

. 10. In combination, a loading and unloading platform, or unit of wharf area, separate sets of switch tracks servin separate sections of the platform or unit, a main line track from which each set of switch tracks diverges at an angle, the edge of each section adjacent its corresponding set of switch tracks being approximately parallel with said set of switch tracks and being diagonal with respect to the main line track and the waterfront.

11. In combination, a loading and unloading platform, or unit of wharf area, with a set of switch tracks serving it, said switch 1 tee water front, said switch tracks and platform pertaining thereto being parallel with each other but at an angle with said main line track and water front, said loading or. un loading platform or unit of wharf area adjoining another loading or unloading platform or unit of wharf area, the switch tracks belonging to said adjoining two units of platform or wharf area not connecting with each other.

12. In a combination a main line track. a plurality of platforms in end to end relation, and substantially parallel with the main line, a plurality of switch tracks diverging at an angle from said main line, one of said divergent switch tracks ranging alongside each of said respective platforms, the edges of said platforms adjapoint on an switch track opposite its pertaining plat orm, will clear cars moving on any other of said divergent switch tracks, or on the main line.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN C. ALLIN. Witnesses W. H. Dimmr, E. V. HARDWAY. 

